April, 18, 2002 archives

after a long lull of all you suckers not spending money on me, happygofun finally came through and has claimed the coveted sponsor position at the bottom of the page. now go enlist their services to design the website (or whatever) of your dreams. as they say, everyone could use a little happygofun in their life.

here's my review of the best carbonated banana-flavored soft drink i've ever had. also the only carbonated banana-flavored soft drink i've ever had, so the competition wasn't very fierce. there's reportedly a coconut flavor by the same company (who is supposed to have a website, but there's nobody home). something to look for on my next grocery store trip.

a very short story about the first time i bought some bana-nina tropical (yes, there's been more than one time):

as i was checking out, the person in front of me asked what it was, and i replied “i really have no idea. it just looked interesting.”

she said, “you shop like i do! that's why i'm not allowed to do the shopping any more!”

“you moron, you're standing in the checkout line of a grocery store with a bunch of groceries,” i replied.

okay, i didn't really say that last bit. but i thought it really loud.

former los angeles mayor riordan is talking about starting a newspaper. the coolest part is that he's talking with ken layne and matt welch, two local journalists and bloggers who also run laexaminer.com. it sounds like a crazy suicide mission, but i'm jealous.

ev says he'd like to learn how to draw. i can absolutely relate. i have always been in awe of people who can draw.

someone has recommended drawing on the right side of the brain to him, but the reviews at amazon.com seem a bit mixed. keys to drawing seems to have gotten more consistent reviews.

the subtitle of drawing on the right side of the brain is “a course in enhancing creativity and artistic confidence.” i think confidence is what it is really all about: there's so many things in life that people say they are “bad” at (singing, drawing, math, sports, writing), when it really is a matter of confidence. they think they are bad, and the prophecy fulfills itself. not that i don't think talent exists—i've met way too many talented people to believe otherwise. but i don't think a lack of natural inclination precludes anyone from being above average at any of these things. before practice makes you perfect, it makes you better, and more confident.

(i also think that simply chalking up an ability for something to talent undersells the amount of effort and learning that goes into it. it is hard work making it look easy.)

and one thing i ran across at amazon while looking at these books: so you'd like to... design and create your own personal tarot deck.

john jeavons knows how to grow all of the food that one person needs in a year on 4000 square feet of land. very cool. (via boingboing.)